By Abbas Nazil, Obiabin Onukwugha and Abdullahi Lukman
Indiscriminate disposal of refuse in waterways, drainage channels and public spaces is worsening flooding in cities across Nigeria, with residents reporting blocked drainage systems, submerged homes and businesses, and growing threats to livelihoods.
The problem has become more severe during the rainy season as plastic waste, food remains, agricultural waste and other debris are washed into drainages. This obstructs the free flow of stormwater and increases the risk of flash flooding.
In Kogi State, residents said some newly constructed drainage facilities have been turned into dumping points for household and agricultural waste. The practice, they said, is undermining efforts to improve flood control in affected communities.
A trader, Mallam Musa, lamented that residents had turned a newly constructed drainage channel in his area into a makeshift dumpsite.
“People are using the newly constructed drainage as a dustbin. They throw maize husks and other refuse inside it, and this blocks the passage of water,” Musa said.
Another resident, Inya Aminatu, said floodwater entered her house after rainfall. “When people dump refuse into the drainage, the water cannot flow properly and it comes into residential areas,” she said.
In Rivers State, the practice is also widespread. Findings show that in Port Harcourt and adjoining local government areas including Obio/Akpor and Oyigbo, residents often dispose of waste in gutters and drainage channels.
Despite government efforts to provide waste collection points, residents were observed dumping refuse in front of their houses. The blockage of waterways and creeks, including Nwaja and Ntawogba, has been identified as a contributing factor to flooding around Port Harcourt.
A hairstylist, Mrs. Miebaka, said waste mixed with faeces is often left in front of her shop after rainfall.
“Throwing of dirt into the drainage is a common practice here. With N100 to N200, you can give a ‘mallam’ your dirt to throw away for you,” she said.
In the Federal Capital Territory, residents of Kubwa Phase 4 raised concerns over waste left behind by scavengers. They said scavengers sort through refuse and leave plastic bags, bottles, cartons and other debris along roadsides and in drainage channels, where they are washed into gutters during rainfall.
A resident, Suleiman Yakub, described indiscriminate waste disposal as a major concern during the rainy season, while another resident, Eugenia Odo, said blocked drainages often cause water to accumulate on roads and around homes.
Residents across the affected areas stressed that building drainage infrastructure alone would not solve flooding if waterways continue to be used as dumping grounds.
They called on authorities to intensify monitoring of waste disposal, ensure proper handling of refuse by scavengers and waste handlers, and improve waste collection services. They also urged sustained public enlightenment on the environmental consequences of indiscriminate dumping.
In Kogi, Mallam Yusuf said responsibility for a clean environment must be shared.
“Prevention of flooding starts with you and me. It is not only the responsibility of the government to keep the environment clean; we also have a responsibility, and the repercussions of neglecting that responsibility will affect us,” he said.
Beyond flooding, residents warned that blocked drainages create stagnant water and unsanitary conditions that pose additional public health risks.
As the rainy season continues, communities across Nigeria are calling for urgent action from both government and citizens to keep drainage channels and waterways clear and prevent avoidable flooding from destroying homes, businesses and livelihoods.
